New supporter for top award
We are excited to announce that Thales joins Siemens as a key supporter for awards at The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition.
The global leader in advanced technologies Thales is supporting the UK Young Engineer of the Year award for the first time. Global technology company, Siemens also returns to support the UK Young Technologist of the Year award. The UK Young Scientist of the Year award is also up for grabs, as well as a host of special awards supported by key industry partners.
The Big Bang Competition invites students aged 11 to 18, from state-funded schools, home education, or community groups, to enter a STEM project. Students can explore any STEM topic that sparks their curiosity and imagination. New for this year, young people will be asked to explore how their project could affect people and the environment, encouraging them to think ethically. All participants receive feedback from STEM professionals to help them learn and improve their skills.
Phillip McShane, Associate Director of the Big Bang at EngineeringUK shared his thoughts:
“We’re delighted to share the latest partnership for The Big Bang Competition. Working with Thales and Siemens will allow us to reach and inspire more young people to develop a passion for science, engineering and technology. We’re looking forward to working closely with them as we look to crown our big winners of 2026.”
James Mackay, Head of STEM in the UK at Thales, commented:
“We’re proud to sponsor The Big Bang Competition because it aligns with our core mission—to inspire innovation and build a future we can all trust. The creativity and determination we see from young people here remind us that the next big breakthrough could come from anyone. Supporting these future innovators is truly exciting for everyone at Thales.”
A key advocate of inspiring the future workforce, Thales is also supporting the 5th annual Tomorrow’s Engineers Live conference, taking place on 10 February 2026. This engaging event will once again bring the community together to share, learn and innovate engineering and technology outreach.
Discover Tomorrow's Engineers Live
The winners of The Big Bang Competition will be announced at The Big Bang Fair, which returns to NEC from 9 to 11 June 2026. This annual event provides an opportunity for school groups to discover hands-on activities in STEM.
Mark Wood, Social Sustainability Lead, Great Britain & Ireland, at Siemens said:
“The Big Bang Competition is a truly equitable way to inspire the next generation to put their ideas into solving real world STEM problems. The imagination and passion we see in these projects is awe inspiring. Siemens are immensely proud to support these young minds, nurture their interests and ambitions around using technology to solve contemporary problems.”
Other awards on offer include:
- IHEEM Innovation in Wellbeing and Healthcare Engineering Award
- a fully funded place to the 67th London International Youth Science Forum 2026 (LIYSF)
- the ECITB Teamwork award
- The Intellectual Property Office innovation award
- the EUK Education teacher award
In 2025, winning projects included an automatic pill dispenser, an alternative telecommunications system for emergency communications, and an investigation into the physics behind karate.
To support teachers and students, the free Big Bang Challenge resource offers step-by-step guidance to create and develop a STEM project. With several themes to choose from, the Big Bang Challenges cover topics from AI and robotics to extreme weather, air quality and more. Each resource helps to bring exciting STEM concepts to life in the classroom.
Entries to The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition 2026 are now open.
"Working with supporters like Thales and Siemens will allow us to reach and inspire more young people to develop a passion for science, engineering and technology. We’re looking forward to working closely with them as we look to crown our big winners of 2026."
— Phillip McShane, Associate Director of the Big Bang at EngineeringUK
